Published: Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 6:48 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 6:48 p.m.

Southwest Florida could host its first international rowing event a full year before the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

But the selection of Nathan Benderson Park as the site of the 2016 Samsung World Cup would be contingent on the Sarasota park's selection as venue for the 2017 championships.

That decision is slated for August.

The World Cup, which also attracts Olympic-caliber rowers, is smaller than the World Championships.

Colleen Orsmond, events manager with the International Federation of Rowing Associations, or FISA, the governing body behind both rowing events, said Thursday the World Cup would help Sarasota and Manatee counties prepare for the bigger 2017 event.

“A test event must be held before the championships and the World Cup is a good option, as it provides an opportunity to test most if not all aspects of the competition, including the television production,” Orsmond said.

Hosting a televised international event before the 2017 championships would also further cement Southwest Florida's place as a rowing destination and could lead to other world-class events, said Paul Blackketter, the chief operating officer of the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Association, the local group that put together the World Championships' bid package.

The World Cup event would be given to Benderson Park as part of being the 2017 host site, he said. There would be no need to bid for the separate event.

“The World Cup runs the same type of regattas we run now already. The difference is we'd be bringing in rowers from around the world to come and compete,” Blackketter said. “The World Cup also doesn't have all the detailed requirements you need for the championships. It's a smaller event and much cheaper, too.”

World Rowing Cup

The World Rowing Cup is comprised of three regattas that take place at different venues throughout the summer.

The United States has not hosted a World Cup since 2001, when one of the three regattas was held in Princeton, N.J. — the only time in the event's 16-year history that a U.S. venue has been a host.

With the World Cup as a possibility, Benderson Park would be following the trajectory of other noted rowing destinations worldwide.

The Eton Dorney, just outside of London, hosted the 2005 World Cup the year before the 2006 World Rowing Championships there. It was the site of the 2012 Olympic Games, and is hosting the World Cup again this year.

Similarly, the Sydney International Regatta Centre was used for the 2000 Olympic Games and the first leg of the 2013 Samsung World Cup in March.

The World Cup, which traditionally takes place in the summer months, would run in conjunction with a national rowing event like the Scholastic National Championships, a U.S. Rowing-governed event, if Benderson Park is awarded the 2017 championship, Blackketter said.

“We won't need as many hotel rooms for this event, it's much more low-key compared to the championships,” said Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, the county's tourism agency. “But if we combine the event with a national one, it will make for a stronger economic impact.”

The 2005 World Cup in London generated about 4,867 hotel room nights over three days and $915,024 (converted from British currency) in economic impact, according to a survey by UK Sport. The 2006 World Rowing Championships at the same venue generated 29,072 room nights over eight days, and sparked $5.1 million in total economic impact.

If awarded, the 2017 World Rowing Championships would likely draw 42,000 people to the Sarasota-Bradenton area and pump $13 million in direct spending into the region, for a total economic impact of nearly $25 million, according to estimates from those trying to land the event.

The bidding

Sarasota and Manatee counties provided $5.6 million needed to support the 2017 World Rowing Championships and the state added $5 million this year.

When local government and tourism officials amended the budget for the 2013 fiscal year in January to help pay for some of the championship costs, they also allowed extra room for the cost of another rowing event — the World Cup.

But $15 million would still be needed to complete infrastructure at the park necessary to host the World Cup. Blackketter said that plans are on schedule, and that one of two hotels being built in the area will be open by the time the 2016 World Cup is held.

Blackketter is traveling to the 2013 Samsung World Cup at the end of this month to meet with FISA executives. There, they will review the bid package and make any changes needed before a June 30 deadline.

In mid-July, Blackketter will travel to Switzerland to make a final presentation to the FISA Council for the 2017 event.

Benderson Development head Randy Benderson, Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta, Manatee County's Larry Bustle and Ed Hunzeker and local tourism officials will also go to Switzerland to help with the final pitch.

FISA will notify the winner of the 2017 championship in early August, and the venue will be announced at the 2013 World Rowing Championships in September in South Korea.

<p>Southwest Florida could host its first international rowing event a full year before the 2017 World Rowing Championships. </p><p>But the selection of Nathan Benderson Park as the site of the 2016 Samsung World Cup would be contingent on the Sarasota park's selection as venue for the 2017 championships.</p><p>That decision is slated for August.</p><p>The World Cup, which also attracts Olympic-caliber rowers, is smaller than the World Championships.</p><p>Colleen Orsmond, events manager with the International Federation of Rowing Associations, or FISA, the governing body behind both rowing events, said Thursday the World Cup would help Sarasota and Manatee counties prepare for the bigger 2017 event.</p><p>“A test event must be held before the championships and the World Cup is a good option, as it provides an opportunity to test most if not all aspects of the competition, including the television production,” Orsmond said.</p><p>Hosting a televised international event before the 2017 championships would also further cement Southwest Florida's place as a rowing destination and could lead to other world-class events, said Paul Blackketter, the chief operating officer of the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Association, the local group that put together the World Championships' bid package.</p><p>The World Cup event would be given to Benderson Park as part of being the 2017 host site, he said. There would be no need to bid for the separate event. </p><p>“The World Cup runs the same type of regattas we run now already. The difference is we'd be bringing in rowers from around the world to come and compete,” Blackketter said. “The World Cup also doesn't have all the detailed requirements you need for the championships. It's a smaller event and much cheaper, too.”</p><p><b>World Rowing Cup</b></p><p>The World Rowing Cup is comprised of three regattas that take place at different venues throughout the summer. </p><p>The United States has not hosted a World Cup since 2001, when one of the three regattas was held in Princeton, N.J. — the only time in the event's 16-year history that a U.S. venue has been a host.</p><p>With the World Cup as a possibility, Benderson Park would be following the trajectory of other noted rowing destinations worldwide.</p><p>The Eton Dorney, just outside of London, hosted the 2005 World Cup the year before the 2006 World Rowing Championships there. It was the site of the 2012 Olympic Games, and is hosting the World Cup again this year. </p><p>Similarly, the Sydney International Regatta Centre was used for the 2000 Olympic Games and the first leg of the 2013 Samsung World Cup in March. </p><p>The World Cup, which traditionally takes place in the summer months, would run in conjunction with a national rowing event like the Scholastic National Championships, a U.S. Rowing-governed event, if Benderson Park is awarded the 2017 championship, Blackketter said. </p><p>“We won't need as many hotel rooms for this event, it's much more low-key compared to the championships,” said Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, the county's tourism agency. “But if we combine the event with a national one, it will make for a stronger economic impact.” </p><p>The 2005 World Cup in London generated about 4,867 hotel room nights over three days and $915,024 (converted from British currency) in economic impact, according to a survey by UK Sport. The 2006 World Rowing Championships at the same venue generated 29,072 room nights over eight days, and sparked $5.1 million in total economic impact.</p><p>If awarded, the 2017 World Rowing Championships would likely draw 42,000 people to the Sarasota-Bradenton area and pump $13 million in direct spending into the region, for a total economic impact of nearly $25 million, according to estimates from those trying to land the event.</p><p><b>The bidding</b></p><p>Sarasota and Manatee counties provided $5.6 million needed to support the 2017 World Rowing Championships and the state added $5 million this year. </p><p>When local government and tourism officials amended the budget for the 2013 fiscal year in January to help pay for some of the championship costs, they also allowed extra room for the cost of another rowing event — the World Cup.</p><p>But $15 million would still be needed to complete infrastructure at the park necessary to host the World Cup. Blackketter said that plans are on schedule, and that one of two hotels being built in the area will be open by the time the 2016 World Cup is held.</p><p>Blackketter is traveling to the 2013 Samsung World Cup at the end of this month to meet with FISA executives. There, they will review the bid package and make any changes needed before a June 30 deadline. </p><p>In mid-July, Blackketter will travel to Switzerland to make a final presentation to the FISA Council for the 2017 event.</p><p>Benderson Development head Randy Benderson, Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta, Manatee County's Larry Bustle and Ed Hunzeker and local tourism officials will also go to Switzerland to help with the final pitch.</p><p>FISA will notify the winner of the 2017 championship in early August, and the venue will be announced at the 2013 World Rowing Championships in September in South Korea.</p>